Author Topic: G Nyman or Kaj Franck ? (Read 4975 times)

taylog1 · « **on:** May 06, 2006, 04:35:29 PM »

Some of you may remember a 16 1/2 " Nuutajarvi Serpentine vase on Ebay in March 2004 - clearly signed K. Franck, Nuutajarvi Notsjo, '53.

Well, there's another piece on Tradera at the moment:
http://www.tradera.com/auction/aid_28163178

It's the G Nyman mussel vase in amber - but signed K Franck Nuuttajärvi Notsjö -58.

I could understand someone accidentally signing Kaj Franck and not G Nyman, but also getting the date wrong, twice ?

I'd be interested for any thoughts, has me intrigued.

taylog

robbo · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2006, 05:42:55 PM »

Hi taglog1,

It's very intriguing :? .

Here's another Nuutajärvi mark from '58.
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10019/franck_58_sig.jpg
Although I'm no hand-writing expert, it *looks* to be the same hand. It's on a well documented Kaj Franck design - here's the whole thing:
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/albums/userpics/10019/franck_goblet.jpg

As far as I know, Gunnel Nyman designs where manufactured by Nuutajärvi well into the '50s, although I'm unsure until when. The earlier pieces usually have the acid painted signatures, used upto c. 1952.

Maybe a mistake in the factory? :?

The other thing is Humppila copied some Gunnel Nyman designs - I have their version of the Serpentine vase, with humppila marks.

taylog1 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2006, 06:26:14 PM »

Yes, I've got the humppila serpentine, and another one I think is a Nuutajarvi derivate
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/thumbnails.php?album=54

I don't think they made bigger Serpentine vases but happy to learn otherwise.

The signatures look genuine to me, and consistent with the dates (not acid marked, as you say).

I've been through my database for boh bits, and the latest dates for serpentine dates I've seen is 55, and 54 for the mussel vase - does anyone know how long they were sold for with G Nyman's name on ?

paradisetrader · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2006, 07:12:09 PM »

Gunnel Nyman died in 1948
Kaj Franck joined NN in 1950 - prior to that he was working for iittala.
He bacame artistic director of NN in 1968.

Bill Geary notes in http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,537.0.html that

Quote

Kaj Franck, early in his career was quite vocal about not
having the artists name on their glass.

This only deepens the mystery I'm afraid.... :roll:
and no year mentioned on this one http://www.trocadero.com/accents/items/514009/item514009store.html

robbo · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2006, 07:41:14 PM »

taglog, my serpentine is the same as yours!

Modernes Glas aus Finnland has an example of a 42cm Serpentine signed G. Nyman Nuutajärvi Notsjö -58. It also gives the production dates as 1949-1958.

There is also a GN25 (shaped like the sepentine, but with controlled bubbles & a coloured interior) dated -56, production dates 49-58. The other examples all have production dates to -54. Unfortunately the mussel vase isn't included :roll:

So it's possible the mussel vase was made in -58.

Quote from: "paradisetrader"

and no year mentioned on this one http://www.trocadero.com/accents/items/514009/item514009store.html

It reads as if this one has one of the earlier acid painted marks, which often are very worn, especially the date bit!

robbo

Della · « **Reply #5 on:** May 06, 2006, 08:08:41 PM »

According to Designlasin hintakirja, the mussel vase was made up until the late 50's in heights of 18-21cm in clear, smoke, yellow or lilac.

taylog1 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 06, 2006, 08:30:49 PM »

Thanks everyone - I hadn't appreciated that they were still selling Nyman bits that late on - a wrong signature by a worker would then seem the most likely suggestion - as Robbo surmised initially - it's also being discussed on Antikprat by the Tradera seller, if they conclude differently I'll let you know

taylog1